Work record, economy focus in Ottawa: MP

PETER VAN LOAN

The economy and the federal government’s “record of accomplishment” will
remain the focus this year, Conservative house leader and York-Simcoe
MP Peter Van Loan said.
However, the federal Liberals disputed the picture presented by Mr. Van
Loan and accused the government of mismanaging the economic file.
Job creation, economic growth and long-term prosperity for Canadian
families will be top priorities for the federal government as it
prepares to introduce the 2013 budget and other legislation, Mr. Van
Loan said during a teleconference earlier this week.
Beyond the budget, the government plans to move on several other laws
before Parliament, including the Enhancing Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Accountability Act, the Fair Rail Freight Service Act, the Faster
Removal of Foreign Criminals Act and the Northern Jobs and Growth Act,
among others, Mr. Van Loan said.
“Our government will continue to build on its strong record of accomplishment,” he said.
Parliament has operated effectively under Prime Minister Stephen Harper,
Mr. Van Loan stressed, citing more than three-quarters of the
government’s bills have passed through at least one of the two chambers,
with the majority receiving royal assent.
The list includes Bill C-18, which put an end to the Canadian Wheat
Board’s monopoly, the Conservatives’ omnibus crime bill and budget
implementation legislation.
The federal Liberal party took an opposing view of the government’s track record.
Liberal Leader Bob Rae demanded the federal government use the 2013
budget as an opportunity to improve the economic climate and foster
greater prosperity for Canadians.
“Under the Harper Conservatives, Canada has averaged the worst seven
years of economic growth since the end of the Second World War and
Canadians have been needlessly hit with deep cuts to services,” he said
in a statement.
It is time the Conservatives started setting and working toward real and
achievable targets that will begin to restore confidence lost during
the recent recession, he added.
As part of the budget process, the Liberals are calling for a variety of
measures, including the creation of an arm’s length legal advisory
committee tasked with ensuring First Nations have been consulted prior
to the tabling of all draft legislation and the scrapping of proposed
employment insurance premium increases scheduled for 2014.
Mr. Rae urged the government to aim for an unemployment rate of 6.5 per
cent within the next year and to make Canada one of the top 10
destinations for international travel again by 2015, while also working
with First Nations to bring on-reserve high school graduation rates up
to the national average.
He described these as “non-spending” measures.
Federal NDP representatives were unavailable for comment.